Chapter Text
Love tapped her manicured nails against the polished oak desk, the soft clicks echoing in her corner office. She stared at her laptop screen, a spreadsheet of projections and marketing goals for the next quarter.
Normally, she thrived in this environment—the meticulous planning, the challenge of staying ahead in a cutthroat industry. But today, her focus wavered.
Her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen to see a message from Film in their group chat with June:
Film: Don’t even think about bailing on us tonight, Love. We’re serious. Work can wait for once.
June: You’re 24. Come act like it for a change.
Love: I’m busy. Do you know how much work goes into running a company like Twenty Wendy?
Film: And do YOU know how much work goes into making sure our uptight CEO friend doesn’t die of boredom before 30?
June: We’re not taking no for an answer. Be ready at 8.
Love sighed, brushing her perfectly styled hair behind her ear. Film and June never took her excuses seriously.
……………
That evening, Love found herself reluctantly sitting in the VIP section of one of Bangkok’s trendiest bars. Film, dressed in a sleek black pantsuit, exuded effortless confidence as she leaned back in the plush booth. Next to her, June was perched elegantly, her demeanor quieter but her smile no less conspiratorial.
Love nursed a glass of wine, her tailored blazer and understated jewelry making her stand out from the glitzy crowd.
“You’re impossible,” Film said, shaking her head as she waved over a server. “Do you ever take a break, or are spreadsheets the only thing that excites you these days?”
“Spreadsheets are reliable,” Love replied, sipping her wine. “Unlike your wild ideas.”
June chuckled softly. “Wild ideas are what makes life interesting. Which is exactly why we’re giving you a dare tonight.”
Love raised a brow, skeptical. “A dare?”
Film smirked, pulling out her phone. “We found this site. It’s called SecretHaven. Think of it as… a more specialized subscription platform.”
“Specialized?” Love repeated, suspicion creeping into her voice.
“Tailored to people’s interests,” June clarified, her tone gentle but her grin wicked. “Let’s just say, if you have a thing for hands, feet, leather, or… I don’t know, candle wax, you’ll find your niche there.”
“Absolutely not,” Love said firmly, setting down her glass.
Film leaned in, her eyes glinting with mischief. “Come on, Love. It’s harmless. Make an account. Subscribe to someone. Just to see what it’s like. We’re all doing it.”
“We are not all doing it,” Love countered, crossing her arms.
“Uptight,” June sing-songed.
“Predictable,” Film added.
Love’s jaw tightened. She hated that they were right. She wasn’t the adventurous type, not outside of her professional life. But the weight of their teasing pressed on her, and the wine in her system made her bold.
“Fine,” she said, snatching Film’s phone to look at the site. “One account. But only for tonight.”
Film and June cheered as Love typed in her information on her own phone. They leaned over her shoulder, giggling like schoolgirls as she scrolled through the profiles.
“That one,” June suggested, pointing to a profile with a minimalist aesthetic. The profile picture showed only hands, delicate and poised, resting on the edge of a wooden table.
“That’s subtle,” Film noted approvingly.
Love clicked on the account, username @outinthemilkyway. The subscription options ranged from 3,000 to 10,000 THB per month. With a dismissive huff, she selected the lowest tier.
“There,” she said, showing her friends the confirmation screen. “Happy now?”
“Ecstatic,” Film said, raising her glass in a mock toast.
Love locked her phone and slid it into her purse, determined to forget the entire ordeal.
……………
The next morning, Love woke up with a dull headache, a side effect of the second glass of wine she hadn’t needed. She shuffled to her kitchen, brewed her usual black coffee, and checked her phone.
The screen lit up with notifications—emails, texts, and a single message from SecretHaven.
She froze, the events of the previous night rushing back. Her thumb hovered over the notification before she tapped it.
@outinthemilkyway has uploaded new content.
Curiosity got the better of her. The photos were simple yet elegant:
A hand holding a steaming cup of tea. Fingers trailing over the edge of a notebook. Wrists adorned with delicate jewelry, resting on white linens.
Each image was accompanied by captions that were short but evocative:
“Even the simplest things can be intimate. What do you notice when you look closely?”
Love couldn’t deny the appeal. The images were oddly captivating, drawing her into a world that felt both intimate and detached.
She closed the app and shook her head, dismissing the flicker of intrigue. She had work to do.
………………
That evening, however, Love found herself back on SecretHaven. Her day had been long and grueling, filled with meetings that left her drained. She sat on her bed, scrolling through @outinthemilkyway’s feed.
A new post caught her eye.
It was a video this time—a slow, deliberate motion of a hand untying a silk ribbon. The caption read: “The beauty of anticipation.”
Love stared at the screen, her heart racing for reasons she didn’t understand.
On impulse, she commented on the post.
“What made you start this account?”
She didn’t expect a reply. The platform was impersonal, built to shield creators from too much interaction unless subscribers paid for higher tiers. Her current subscription, the lowest at 3,000 THB, only allowed her to comment on posts. She didn’t even have access to the locked content.
Still, her heart skipped when a notification popped up minutes later. A reply.
“Curiosity,” the creator had written.
Love frowned. That was it? Just one word? She stared at the response, unsure if she wanted to feel disappointed or intrigued. Against her better judgment, she typed again.
“Curiosity about what?”
For a moment, there was no reply. Then another notification buzzed through.
“What draws people in. What keeps them coming back.”
Love read the words twice, her fingers hesitating over the keyboard. She didn’t know if it was profound or just pretentious.
“Does it work?” she finally asked, unable to help herself.
The response was quick this time.
“You’re still here, aren’t you?”
Love’s breath caught. She stared at the screen, the words staring back at her like a challenge. Feeling her pulse race, she locked her phone and set it down, standing abruptly.
What was she getting herself into?
……………….
The following evening, Love found herself sitting at the same bar, this time less reluctantly. It was Film’s idea, of course, to meet up with everyone. Her friends were always trying to drag her out of her comfort zone, and lately, she’d started letting them.
June arrived first, dressed in a sleek emerald-green blouse tucked into tailored white pants. She looked polished yet approachable, her outfit complementing her soft, reserved demeanor.
“How’s your novel coming along?” Love asked as they waited for Film.
June sighed, brushing her short hair behind her ear. “It’s… complicated. I keep second-guessing every scene I write. Sometimes I wonder if my first book’s success was just luck.”
“It wasn’t luck,” Love said firmly. “You’re talented, June. Stop letting your insecurities get the better of you.”
June smiled faintly, but her eyes remained clouded with doubt. “View says the same thing.”
At the mention of her partner, June’s expression softened.
“She’s been reading my drafts, giving me feedback. Honestly, I don’t know what I’d do without her.”
“You’d still write a great book,” Love replied, though she could see how much June leaned on View’s steady presence.
Before June could respond, Film sauntered in, exuding her usual charisma. She was wearing a fitted blazer over a cropped black top, her hair slicked back in a way that made her look effortlessly cool.
“Sorry, I’m late,” Film said, sliding into the booth with them. “Namtan wouldn’t let me leave until I promised to have a drink with her.”
“You’re completely smitten, aren’t you?” Love teased.
Film didn’t even deny it, a grin spreading across her face. “She’s easy to be smitten with. Have you seen her? The woman could pour me a glass of water, and I’d act like it’s the best drink I’ve ever had.”
June laughed softly. “She’s good for you, Film. You needed someone who’d put you in your place every now and then.”
Film raised her glass in a mock toast. “To strong-willed women who don’t let me get away with anything.”
……………..
Across town, Namtan was closing up the bar she worked at, her thoughts lingering on Film. She smiled as she wiped down the counter, replaying their last conversation in her mind.
“You’re obsessed with her,” View said, leaning against the bar as she waited for Namtan to finish.
“And you’re not obsessed with June?” Namtan shot back, arching a brow.
“Touché,” View admitted, a small smile curving her lips. “How’s Film handling the pressure? Isn’t she auditioning for that new series?”
“She’s stressed,” Namtan admitted. “But she’ll be fine. Film’s resilient, even when she pretends she’s not.”
View nodded. “She’s lucky to have you in her corner.”
“And June’s lucky to have you reading every word she writes,” Namtan countered, smirking.
View shrugged, though there was a fondness in her gaze. “I just want her to see herself the way I see her. She’s brilliant, even if she doesn’t believe it yet.”
Namtan chuckled. “We’re a couple of hopeless romantics, aren’t we?”
View grinned. “Guilty as charged.”
…………….
That same night, as Love sat in her apartment, she opened her phone again. Her thumb hovered over the SecretHaven app before she finally tapped it. The creator had posted another update.
This time, it was a picture of a handwritten note: “What keeps you up at night?”
The vein in her hands and arms, prominent. Love couldn’t help but blush. Love stared at it for a long time before closing the app. She didn’t know the answer—or maybe she didn’t want to admit it.
The following morning, Love threw herself into work as if she could outrun her thoughts. Her schedule was packed: back-to-back meetings with department heads, approving campaign concepts, and reviewing projections for Twenty Wendy’s upcoming launch.
Everything had to be perfect. It always did.
Yet, despite the flurry of activity, her mind kept drifting back to the app, to the mysterious @outinthemilkyway. The brief exchange from the night before lingered like a puzzle she couldn’t solve.
By the time her lunch break came, she found herself seated in her office, phone in hand, staring at the app again. She hadn’t told her friends about her recent obsession with the subscription yet; it felt too personal, too ridiculous. But she couldn’t stop thinking about it.
The account had posted again.
This time, it was a video. Hands, undeniably graceful, working through a set of loose bracelets and fastening them onto a wrist. The movements were deliberate, the lighting soft and intimate.
The caption read:
“Ever feel like you’re wearing chains instead of jewelry?”
Love’s chest tightened as she read the words. It felt uncomfortably specific, as though the creator could see through her carefully curated life.
…………..
Later that evening, Love met with her friends again, this time at View’s loft. The space was sleek and modern, a reflection of View’s effortless sophistication. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed the Bangkok skyline, and the smell of freshly brewed coffee lingered in the air.
June was already there, curled up on the couch with her laptop, presumably working on her novel. Film arrived shortly after Love, tossing her bag onto a chair with a dramatic sigh.
“Long day?” Love asked, raising an eyebrow.
“You have no idea,” Film groaned, flopping onto the couch beside June. “Auditions are brutal. They want you to be confident, but not too confident. Unique, but not too unique. I’m starting to think they don’t know what they want.”
Namtan’s name came up quickly in the conversation.
“At least you’ve got Namtan,” June said, glancing up from her laptop.
Film’s expression softened instantly. “Yeah. She keeps me sane. How’s View been treating you?”
June smiled, her cheeks tinting pink. “She’s been reading my drafts, giving me advice. Honestly, she’s more of a motivator than I deserve.”
“Sounds like love,” Film teased.
“It is,” View said as she walked into the room, carrying a tray of snacks. She set it down on the coffee table and shot June a fond smile. “And you deserve every bit of it.”
Love watched the exchange, a pang of something unfamiliar tugging at her chest. She was happy for her friends—truly. But seeing them so effortlessly connected made her feel… isolated.
At one point, June paused her typing, glancing up with a faint smile. “So, Love,” she started cautiously, clearly trying to gauge Love’s mood, “How have you been since the other night?”
Film’s eyes sparkled with mischief as she grinned at Love, clearly enjoying the teasing. “How many times have you been logging in on that website? You did, didn’t you? I think we should get her a ‘Loosen Up’ sticker for her next birthday."
Love stiffened. She knew exactly where this was going. She had hoped they wouldn’t bring it up again, but with Film leading the charge, there was no escaping it.
June froze for a moment, her eyes widening in genuine surprise at Love’s reaction. She had been with them that night when the dare had come up. The laughter, the teasing, the silly comments… She had no idea Love had actually followed through with it.
“You—” June blinked, looking at Love with surprise. “You really did it?”
Love felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment, her heart pounding at the sudden shift in attention. “It was a dare,” she muttered defensively, trying to brush it off.
Film leaned back with a smirk, clearly enjoying Love’s discomfort. “Oh, it wasn’t just a dare. It was curiosity. The kind that’s hard to ignore.”
June looked at Love, her eyes filled with a mix of amusement and something else—a touch of understanding. “So, what happened after you signed up? Did you—”
“I didn’t do anything,” Love interjected quickly, cutting June off before she could finish the question. She was already feeling self-conscious enough. “I just… subscribed to an account. That’s all.”
“Which one?” Film asked with exaggerated innocence, leaning forward eagerly.
Love hesitated, not wanting to share the name of the account, but knowing it was pointless to avoid it. “Uh… @outinthemilkyway,” she muttered, barely above a whisper.
“You should at least get something out of it,” June suggested with a wink. “Who knows? Maybe you’ll find someone who knows how to get you to loosen up.”
Love’s heart skipped a beat at the thought. But, as much as she tried to brush it off, she couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something—or someone—was pulling her deeper into this new, unexplored world.
…………
Love sat on her plush couch, the soft glow of her apartment’s lights reflecting off the sleek glass coffee table. Her mind had been racing ever since her conversation with Film and June earlier that evening, the words lingering in her thoughts like an itch she couldn’t quite scratch. She couldn’t ignore the pull—the undeniable curiosity about @outinthemilkyway.
Her phone buzzed softly on the table in front of her, pulling her from her thoughts. Love reached for it absently, her thumb scrolling through the messages on her screen. She opened the app again and found the comment on the latest post.
A user, with the handle @naughtynikki, had commented: “These hands are sexy. I subscribed to the 7,000 THB tier, and it didn’t disappoint.”
Love sat back in her chair, her fingers nervously tapping on her phone. She’d spent the last few minutes staring at the VIP tier option, her heart pounding in her chest. The 10,000 THB subscription wasn’t just a decision—it felt like an invitation to cross into a world that had intrigued her from the moment she first stumbled onto @outinthemilkyway’s profile.
She hesitated only for a moment before confirming her subscription. She watched as the payment processed, her breath catching in her throat as she felt both exhilarated and a little unsure. The screen flickered for a moment before a new message appeared:
“Thank you for subscribing to the VIP package, @loverrukk. Now we can message privately. I look forward to our conversation.”
A smile tugged at the corners of her lips, and she set her phone down for a moment, trying to calm the pounding of her heart. She could feel the weight of the decision she’d just made, and it only made her more curious about what would come next. But it wasn’t just about the messaging—there was so much more waiting for her behind the lock.
She scrolled to the content section, her breath catching as the images flooded her screen. This wasn’t just any content—it was intimate, sensual, and entirely captivating.
Love’s eyes flicked to the latest post. The image displayed @outinthemilkyway’s signature aesthetic—sleek, minimalist, intimate. The creator’s hand rested delicately on her neck, the wrist adorned with subtle silver jewelry. The hand, strong yet feminine, held a certain power in its stillness. But what struck Love most was the subtle glimpse of the creator’s collarbones, the curve of the neck that was as beautiful as it was sensual.
The hands, though still undeniably masculine in strength, had a femininity to them. The skin was smooth, but there was a distinct muscularity that made them feel grounded and powerful. As she scanned the post, her breath hitched.
Love’s fingers hovered over her screen, an undeniable heat rising in her chest as she let the realization sink in. It wasn’t just the hands that caught her attention—it was the hint of the creator’s identity, or rather, the careful withholding of it.
The realization came slowly, and with it, a new wave of desire: this was a woman.
She hadn’t expected that. She’d thought the hands had belonged to some guy like Timothée Chalamet.
But no. This was definitely a woman.
It made everything feel so much more dangerous, and somehow, all the more alluring.
And now, she was hooked.
A flash of competitiveness surged through her. She wasn’t just going to be a casual VIP observer like @naughtynikki. If this person could command such attention with just a hand, what else could they do?
What else could she unravel?
Without thinking further, she navigated to the tiers page. She had already signed up for the VIP Tier for 10,000 THB per month. But this—this felt like something more.
She clicked the “Other Amount” section where followers could put in their own generous amount. Love didn’t hesitate at all as she put 50,000 THB per month.
She is a CEO for a luxurious makeup brand. She also has shares on other companies. The amount of 50,000 THB per month didn’t even come close to her daily income.
There it was—the VVIP package. The one that promised full access to all content, to private messaging, and even live sessions. It also indicates that they can video call directly with the content creator and have unlimited requests.
The idea of those sessions, the thought of being able to request content directly from @outinthemilkyway… it felt like an invitation into a world she wasn’t sure she could control. But right now, control wasn’t what she wanted. She wanted to explore.
She confirmed her subscription, her fingers trembling slightly as she hit the ‘subscribe’ button.
The screen flickered for a moment before a notification appeared:
“Thank you for subscribing to the VVIP package, @loverrukk. Now we can message privately. I look forward to our conversation.”
Love’s heart skipped a beat. She read the message again, her mind swirling. She was officially in. There was no turning back now.
A second message arrived shortly after, from @outinthemilkyway:
“Tonight, I will be hosting a live session. You can request content or talk directly with me in private. I look forward to hearing from you.”
Without thinking, she quickly typed a response.
“I’m looking forward to it as well. How does it work? What happens next?”
Within seconds, the reply came.
@outinthemilkyway: “We can have live sessions, I can create content upon request. And for you, we can even do private video calls. You can ask for anything you desire.”
Love’s heart skipped a beat. ‘Anything I desire.’ The words lingered in her mind, and she felt a rush of heat pool in her chest.
She looked around her unit, the sleek minimalist design of her space offering little comfort against the simmering tension rising within her. There was something deeply dangerous about this. Something thrilling. She could feel the thrill of surrendering control, of giving in to the mysterious world that this content creator inhabited.
She closed her eyes for a second, trying to suppress the flicker of anticipation. This wasn’t her usual—this wasn’t part of her meticulously planned, controlled life. But in this moment, it was all she wanted.
Her fingers moved to type another message.
“What kind of content do you create?”
She waited, her thumb tapping nervously against the edge of her phone. The reply came quickly.
@outinthemilkyway: “Sensual, intimate. I reveal only what you’re ready to see. Everything is for you. What do you want to see?”
The question sent a wave of heat rushing to her face. She wasn’t sure if it was from embarrassment or desire, but it felt like both.
Love swallowed hard and began to type.
“I want to see everything. Show me.”
She didn’t have to wait long for the response.
@outinthemilkyway: “You will.”
Her heart raced. It felt like the world had shifted under her feet. She had crossed into a space where she no longer knew the rules—and she didn’t want to. All she knew was that her world had just gotten infinitely more complicated, and infinitely more exciting.
As the minutes ticked by, she found herself unable to tear her eyes away from the phone, waiting for the next message to arrive. And when it did, it was accompanied by a notification: Live session starting soon.